If the Wings weren't so jam packed with forwards I'd be calling for a Konopka signing as well. Unfortunately the Wings have too many forwards to justify adding another bottom six guy, no matter how bad ass he is.

Thank God we got our third/fourth stringer RFA locked up until 2013.

There are bigger fish to fry in the goaltending department.

Errrr.... I assume you didn't watch many Grand Rapids games last year. Pierce outplayed our 1st round pick in goal last season (scary no matter how you look at it). Re-signing him was important for the team in GR. I'm sure Holland is more than competent enough to simultaneously negotiate with multiple players.

Errrr.... I assume you didn't watch many Grand Rapids games last year. Pierce outplayed our 1st round pick in goal last season (scary no matter how you look at it). Re-signing him was important for the team in GR. I'm sure Holland is more than competent enough to simultaneously negotiate with multiple players.

Is this why we've signed two mid-rate UFAs and an RFA third/fourth string goaltender in the first four days of free agency?

You're right, though, it is important to get depth within the organization. That's why it's good that there are only six or seven contracts left the Wings can actually sign players to - it means you don't have many contracts like Pearce's distracting from the pursuit of excellence for the big club. If he spent more than 10 minutes on negotiating this contract in the last four days, I'd be disappointed.

But when the big club has some glaring holes at backup GA and a spot for a top-six forward (when Hudler is pushed off a cliff), it's probably a good idea to focus 100 per cent on that first.

Is this why we've signed two mid-rate UFAs and an RFA third/fourth string goaltender in the first four days of free agency?

You're right, though, it is important to get depth within the organization. That's why it's good that there are only six or seven contracts left the Wings can actually sign players to - it means you don't have many contracts like Pearce's distracting from the pursuit of excellence for the big club. If he spent more than 10 minutes on negotiating this contract in the last four days, I'd be disappointed.

But when the big club has some glaring holes at backup GA and a spot for a top-six forward (when Hudler is pushed off a cliff), it's probably a good idea to focus 100 per cent on that first.

I love when people speculate on how good/poor someone is doing at their job when they have no idea what it takes to actually do said job, as well as not having the understanding of what goes on behind closed doors. There are deadlines and CBA restrictions that make signing players by certain dates necessary to the job. Do you not think that Holland has calls into various teams regarding trade options, as well as calls into UFA's with possible offers? Frankly, it would be assanine to think otherwise as he's been doing this job for over 10 years, with success, praise, and very little (earned) ridicule.

I love when people speculate on how good/poor someone is doing at their job when they have no idea what it takes to actually do said job, as well as not having the understanding of what goes on behind closed doors. There are deadlines and CBA restrictions that make signing players by certain dates necessary to the job. Do you not think that Holland has calls into various teams regarding trade options, as well as calls into UFA's with possible offers? Frankly, it would be assanine to think otherwise as he's been doing this job for over 10 years, with success, praise, and very little (earned) ridicule.

You're happy with second round playoff losses? Based on the personnel decisions so far (re-signing everybody under 38), I can only assume Kenny is.

Konopka just went to Ottawa for $700,000. Some old Wings assistant named Paul MacLean coaches there. Tell me we couldn't have used Konopka in Miller's spot, even giving him Miller money ($837,000/ two years) to take on that role.

Kenny has been a very good general manager, but this off-season and last off-season hasn't yielded anything that would lead me to think he's serious about changing the makeup of a team that has gotten older and softer.

I want this team to win, and failign so, I want them to compete hard. I'm sorry some of you don't feel the same way.

Miller can play on just about any line and not look out of place. He's one of our best PKers and can chip in with points.

Konopka is one of the best faceoff guys in the league, but we have two perfectly fine bottom 6 centers (Helm and Abdelkader) who are good at draws. His AHL point totals are irrelevant. Despite being "the perfect fourth line centre," he ranked 12th on the Islanders in SHTOI/G yet was on ice for the most PPG against. The only thing significant he has over Miller or any of our other bottom 6 players is that he can fight. I like him but he's basically a faceoff/fight specialist and the Wings really don't have much room for "specialists."